A Message from the Kashrut Director, Rabbi J.D. Conway

“And you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy…”(Lev 11,44)

It is striking that this all embracing principle of Jewish life is written in conjunction with the kashrut laws rather than perhaps in the more dramatic setting of Shabbat, Yom Kippur or forbidden marriages.

It is the constant engagement with the seemingly mundane aspects of life on a daily basis which elevates our lives, from ordinary to special, from animal to human, and from the

sphere of the earthly to dimensions of holiness.

The Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din continues to strive to ensure that keepingkosher should be easy and accessible and that a KLBD license should be a sign of excellence and reliability.

KLBD activities in 2011 continued to increase and expand. Kosher certification of food ingredients and food companies worldwide grows apace. Some of the more exotic factory

locations visited this year include Ecuador, Bolivia, Vietnam, Dubai, Sardinia and Bolivia amongst many others. We supervised a Cruise to Alaska as well as Pesach hotels in

Brighton and Bournemouth.

Closer to home, we were delighted to welcome many new licensees to the KLBD family including the Orli Group, Kyoto, The Burger Bar, Eighty Six and the Hendon Bagel Bakery;

Restaurants White Fish, The Deli West One and Brasserie 101, Jasmine Catering and bakeries Fields, Dalia’s Cakes and Crème de la Crème. Of particular significance is the

launch of the Family Bread brand providing Pat Yisrael bread and Challot at almost half familiar prices.

The department was also instrumental in launch of two new eruvim in the past year, Borhamwood and Stanmore, which will enhance the sanctity and enjoyment of Shabbat for many hundreds of our members. Several other Eruvim are in the planning stages.

For making all this possible my profound thanks go to everyone in the KLBD Kashrut team; from the shomrim on the front line and the inspectors in factories around the world, as well as the indefatigable office staff who man their mobiles and bleepers 24 hours a day.

For this publication in particular I must thank our senior Food Technologist Rosalind Coten, Researchers Michal Eder and Rabbi Josh Bennett, as well as the designer production

team David Attiach, Myrna Elliot, the graphic designer Caroline Somer and Ilan Grossman.

I am particularly grateful to Dayan Menachem Gelley and his colleagues of the London Beth Din for their halachic guidance and ongoing support and encouragement at all times.

Rabbi Jeremy Conway
Director, LBD Kashrut Division

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